Pocket-knife



- (No Model.)

B. M. BOYNTON.

POCKET KNIFE.

ii. Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

I .ll.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBEN MOODY BOYNTON, OF VEST NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

POCKET-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,580, dated November 22, 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EBEN MooDY BOYNTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Newbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheath and Pocket Knives, of which the following is a -description.

My invention relates to that class of pocketknives in which the blade or blades is or are arranged to slide in and out of the handle. It relates more especially to the devices by which the blade is held firmly in the desired position v in which it has been placed.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a means for carrying it into effeet.

In said drawings, Figure l is a side view of a knife embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section parallel with the blade, the latter being retracted. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the blade protruded. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the spring-catch and retaining-recess. Fig. Gisaside View of aportion of the differentforrn of blade adapted to allow of a better action of the spring. Fig. 7 is a view of the blade and spring detached. Fig. Sis a perspective View. Fig. 9 is a sectional and Fig. 10 a plan view showing another arrangement of the blades. Fig. 11 is a side view showing the retaining devices arranged upon the side of the handle.

A represents the handle, and B the blade or blades of the knives, adapted to slide longitudinally in the same.

D is a spring, fiat and substantially rectangular in cross-section, which is attached to the blade or blades near the base thereof, projects through a longitudinal slot, E, in the handle, and carries at its upper end an operatingknob, G.

0 indicates a retaining-recess communicating with the slot E, and adapted to receive the spring D when the blade is protruded and hold the same firmly in position. Opposite to the said recess is a projection, F, which operates, as will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 5, to force the spring into the recess and there retain it. The front shoulder, f, of the projection F is inclined, as shown, so that the spring may slide up readilyinto the recess; but the corresponding shoulder, c, of the recess is square and adapted to retain the spring from longitudinal motion, except when intentionally given that direction and movement which will disengage it. As seen from Fig. 5, this is a torsional movement, and one not at all likely to be given by accident.

Ordinarily two blades will be combined on the same shank, and two recesses 0 provided, one at each end of the slot. A similar recess islpreferably provided at or near the middle of the handle to keep the blades closed.

The slot may be made in the side of the handle, as shown in Fig. 11.

The spring D is secured in the blade by a dovetail, as shown.

In order to get a greater flexibility of spring, which is desirable where its action is torsional, the blade may be recessed, as shown at b.

The spring may be made in two parts recessed bya dovetail into each side ofthe blade.

It is manifest that eight blades, or a less number, may be thus inserted, and a combination of nut-pick, nail-cleaner, button-hook, corkscrew or other pointed instrument, or pencil, can be combined and sheathed in the same manner.

I claim- 1. In a pocket-knife, the hollow longitudinally-slotted handle, in combination with the sliding blade having a spring-catch, the slot being notched and provided with a curve or incline for forcing the catch into the notch, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pocket-knife, the hollow longitudinally slotted handle, in combination with the sliding blade having a flat spring situated in the same plane as the blade and projecting in line therewith through the slot, the latter be ing notched, substantially asset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in pres- EBEN MOODY BO YNTON.

\Vitnesses:

PATRICK DUNN, EDWARD J. SHALVEY. 

